A referendum on the dismissal of four ethnic Albanian mayors of municipalities in Kosovo was held on 21 April 2024, in the region of North Kosovo with a majority Serb population. The municipalities where the referendum for the replacement of the mayor will be held are: Zubin Potok, Zvečan, Leposavić, and North Mitrovica. For the referendum to succeed, a majority of registered voters must vote for the replacement of the mayor in each municipality.[1] The referendum comes after a petition organized by citizens of municipalities in the north for the removal of 4 mayors in the north.[2][3] It was officially held, having been approved by Kosovo's Central Electoral Commission.[4]
Background
Local elections were held in four Serb majority municipalities of Kosovo on 23 April 2023.[5] Due to tensions prior to the organization of local elections, they were boycotted by the Srpska Lisa and most of the Serb population.[6] As a result of the boycott, four ethnically Albanian mayors were elected to office.
Results
The referendum was boycotted by Serbian voters, while referendum rules require a turnout of 50% or more, ultimately causing it to fail.[7][8] Only 253 out of 46,556 eligible voters in North Kosovo cast their ballots. The largest Serb political party in Kosovo, Serb List, called for boycott of the referendum as it accused it to be undermined by a campaign of pressure and intimidation of local Serbs by the Kosovo government, accusations Pristina denied. The referendum also was not part of an initial deal between Pristina, Belgrade and international mediators aimed at resolving the standoff over governance in north Kosovo. The Serb List said the mayors should have simply resigned before a new election.[7][9]
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 No | 235 | 92.89 |
| Yes | 18 | 7.11 |
| Total votes | 253 | 100.00 |
| Turnout required | 50.00 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 46,556 | 0.54 |
| Source: ABC Newsyenisafak | ||